Linden Hills BBQ joint closes; condo-retail coming

The Famous Dave's barbecue joint in Linden Hills closed Friday, signaling the beginning of a significant change for the showcase neighborhood.

The restaurant, which has operated in converted gas station at W. 43rd St. and Upton Av. S. since 1995, will be torn down and replaced by a three-story development with ground-level retail and two stories of condominiums.

Mark Dwyer, developer of Linden Crossing, said groundbreaking for the new building would probably happen in late summer. Seven of the 16 condominium units have been sold, he said. There will be four commercial spaces on the ground floor.

The development had been proposed as five stories and received several initial approvals at city hall, but was scaled back after a storm of neighborhood opposition to its height.

Jon Swenson, owner of the Famous Dave's, indicated last summer he wanted to open another restaurant nearby. He could not be reached for comment.